Island Stripe Pride - Chapter 70: Chapter 70

A few months later…
“Bruno! Did you bring the biscotti?” Nonna asked.
The tiny Italian woman was sitting in the brand new motorized silver scooter Bruno had just brought her, complete with hot pink flames painted along the side. His Nonna was a total badass, and Mara loved the woman at first sight.
The elderly woman resembled her grandson. Same olive skin and warm eyes, only his turned gold whenever his kitty came out to play, which was often around Mara. Especially since they’d only recently claimed each other.
“Yes, Nonna. I brought them,” he replied gently, taking out the pink box of pastry Mara had packed for their visit.
“Good. Now, when are you going to bring me some great-grandchildren?” the woman demanded, as was her usual response to anything the two of them said or did.
“Nonna, I told you, we’re taking it slow,” he replied nervously.
Bruno looked so wonderfully worried every time his grandmother brought up their future kits or cubs. She knew it was all because he did not want to rush her, especially after the whole Toni debacle.
Her sister had gone into labor, predictably, right after the fourth of July banquet at the Lodge. It was a loud, long, and messy process, but after ten hours of intense pushing and screaming, Toni and Carter welcomed their two little bundles of joy into the world.
Andy, the older twin, smelled like Tiger, but his brother, the surprise twin, Gabe, had that distinct Rabbit scent the sisters recognized. One of each, and wasn’t that lucky? Carter was overjoyed, and Toni exhausted, but Mara was happy for them both.
Thank goodness Rami and Noemi had come to celebrate the 4th with them, happy as they were with their wedding despite the unfortunate Lorraine business. As an officer, Rami had emergency medical training and was able to help get Toni situated while they waited for the Pride doc to show up.
The family was home now, and Bruno and Mara were back to their normal routines, visiting his Nonna and working close by during the week. Dean had officially reassigned Bruno to the Lodge, and Mara had made Manny the official chef at Any Time Eats when she was not there.
Dominique had stepped up to manage the servers and bussing staff, and she’d made a few more hires to help. She was going to need it in the next few months.
“Bruno, I need my tea now,” Nonna said, and her wonderfully attentive mate jumped up to see where his grandmother’s tea was.
“Be right back,” he murmured and kissed Mara quick before walking to the kitchen.
“So,” Nonna began. “When will my great-grandchild be here?” the wise woman asked.
“You know?” Mara whispered, shocked, and delighted to share the news with someone.
“I can see it in your face, child. And I know you are a good one, otherwise my Bruno would not love you so,” she said, patting Mara’s hand with her wrinkled one.
“He is very special,” Mara replied, tearing up. “I am going to work very hard to make him happy.”
“Don’t be silly,” Nonna said. “Just be yourself, sweet Mara, and that is enough to make him happy. Besides, the men have to do the work to make the women happy. We have enough with the getting heavy with the babies, giving birth, all of that. This is how it should be,” Nonna declared, opening her arms wide and shrugging.
Mara giggled as Bruno returned with the tea tray in hand and a question dancing in his eyes. Mara shook her head and smiled. The visit was a lovely one, and though she did not exactly agree with Nonna, the older woman was funny and sweet. Tired from the exertion of the day, Mara fell asleep on the short ride home, and woke up to Bruno carrying her inside.
“We home?”
“Yep. You feeling alright, kit? You got me worried with all this sleeping you’ve been doing. I told Toni to call in the Flock’s healer⁠—”
“You did?” she asked, ridiculously touched by his efforts.
“Yeah. Gotta take care of my girl,” he said, placing her on top of the covers and kissing her head.
Mara clutched his hand when he would’ve walked away, and Bruno stilled, head cocked to the side as he waited for her to speak. He sat down next to her, big hands rubbing her arms, her shoulders, cupping her cheeks.
“What is it, kit?” he asked worriedly.
“You can cancel the healer. I’ve already seen him,” she began.
“You have?”
“Yep. I wanted to be sure before I told you,” she said, biting her lip at the adorable expression on his handsome face.
“Tell me,” he whispered, eyes bright gold, and Mara knew then he’d already guessed.
“You’re gonna be a Daddy, Bruno. We’re gonna have a baby,” she whispered as he threw his head back and shouted with glee.
“Yeeeeeeeesssssssssss!! A cub! You’re gonna have my cub! Oh kit, a baby, a sweet baby, fuck, I love you,” he said in a rush, gathering her in his arms and crushing her to him.
“You’re happy then?”
“Happy? Yes! You’ve given me everything, kit. I promise to be the man you both deserve. I swear it,” he vowed.
“Bruno,” she said, making sure he was looking at her. “You already are. You deserve every happiness, and I am so glad you picked me. I love you. I love our baby. I love our life. We are going to be great at this.”
“Yes,” he nodded. “We are going to be so fucking great at this, kit. Together, we can do anything.”
And she believed him. She knew he was telling the truth.
Bruno had come to Verona Falls carrying nothing but his bad reputation, and a dream to make something better of himself. Mara was just going through the paces with little joy and no prospects. But they’d managed to find something in each other most people miss.
They found the good, and they were making it better every single day. Bruno gave Mara his heart, and in return, she gave him her trust. Their love had started off rocky, but their future was looking better every single day. And as Bruno placed his giant hand over hers on the gentle swell of her belly, the life they created fluttered inside her. Bruno had always given Mara tummy-flies, but this time it was different. This time, they’d made something wondrous with their love.
“I’m glad I turned you down when you first asked me out. And I’m glad you rejected me the first time I asked you to claim me,” she whispered against his chest.
“What? I never rejected you⁠—”
“You made me wait till I knew you, all of you, before we moved forward, and the day I claimed you was the best day of my life. It was the day you told me all your secrets. The day I irrevocably gave you my heart,” she told him, tears spilling down her cheeks.
“If you had given in and claimed me too soon, I would never have learned your past. Without that past, we might not have this future,” she whispered, clutching his hand to her stomach.
“I love you, woman. So much,” he growled, voice thick with his beast. “You are my future. You and our young. Always. You got me, Mara. Tiger and man. I am yours,” he promised.
Then he kissed her, softly, sweetly, with so much love, Mara felt like she was floating. It didn’t matter who rejected who in the beginning. There was none of that now. Only acceptance and love. Real, true, and lasting love. She felt it pulsating through their matebond, and Mara moaned softly into their kiss.
Bruno was her everything, too. He was her happiness, her future, her safe place. Bruno was her home now, and lucky, lucky Bunny that she was, Mara was his home too.
The end.